Visitors to Iceland allowed to take volcano tour

by Emily DUNBAR on May 1, 2012

Visitors to Iceland are now being given the chance to be among the world’s first tourists to visit a volcano’s magma chamber.

The interior of Thrihnukagigur, a volcano which has remained dormant for over 4,000 years, is to be opened to everyday travellers for six weeks from June 15 until July 31. From Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, which most overseas tourists will fly to first, the volcano is just a 30-minute drive.

After the drive, visitors must then begin a hike of 40 minutes across a lava field in order to get to the volcano, before then descending 120 metres to the base of the crater via an open cable lift. Around an hour will then be spent inside the volcano as expert guides take visitors around.

The tour costs £180 per head, a certain amount of which goes towards funding additional research into Iceland’s other volcanoes. All visitors must be at least 12 years of age if they wish to take part and are advised to bring their walking boots, sufficient amounts of water to last them the hike and the tour, suitable outdoor clothing, and their cameras.

Scientists first accessed the chamber in 2011, a move which was described as an historic development. The travel specialist that has launced the “Ultimate Volcano Adventure”, Black Tomato, offers an evening trip inside Thrihnukagigur, a tour of Thingvellir’s National Park, and an outing to the renowned Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.